Lights... Camera...

The release of SAPPHIRE SUN, Book Three of The Lost Magic series is getting closer - FEBRUARY 28th! I'm very excited. I had so much fun writing this book and I am very happy with the product so far (it is still having all the last minute fine-tunes and edits done but I think/hope you will love it!). As the release date creeps closer, I will be doing more and more preparation - organizing some promotional events, sending out early review copies, updating my website and blog, and I finally got some new headshots done the other week.

I was lucky enough to have a photo shoot with Jodie of Jodie Gallant Photography last week. She has done some amazing new headshots for me and I thought I would share some of the pictures with you and blog a little bit about the experience.

First off, Jodie is amazing! I am not a person who naturally feels comfortable in front of a camera but she definitely set me at ease. We did the photos in her studio, chatting about our boys (who are almost the same ages), some of the other fun projects she's been doing lately and listening to City and Colour, who I now have to download on iTunes. I am by no means a great subject to photograph - Jodie was patient with my dry contacts, tooth ache that I kept complaining about and the fact that I closed my eyes every-other time the flashes went off. Things I learned during this experience: I have horrible posture, the most awkward-feeling poses seem to translate the best onto film (or "digital" film, I should say), and I would never win Next Top Model. Ever. (And I'm perfectly ok with this).

As I've talked about in previous posts, anyone with a camera (or phone) can take a picture. If you have the right equipment and take the time to learn how to use it, just about anyone can take high-quality photos but it takes a certain person and a specific talent to be a good, professional photographer. Photography is a combination of technical talent and artistic vision & creativity, and Jodie has all of these. Jodie gave me specific directions (which I needed!) to get all the best angles, to try different poses and shots, to use the lighting to my best advantage and to make me feel comfortable in front of the camera. She was able to not only capture some of my personality on film but to also create dramatic, myserious and artistic portraits that convey a mood consistent with The Lost Magic books. It's a LOT to try to accomplish but Jodie did a fantastic job.

Here are a few of my favorites from our shoot:

 

I think I'm squinting a bit in this one from my dry contacts. But it worked out!

 

 

 

In this one, I am looking directly into a large, white light, waiting for it to flash into my face and hoping I won't see the red insides of my eyelids as the flash goes off, again. Hopefully, you can't tell that's what's going on in my head.

 

 

In this one I think I was following some directions like, "chin up, not that far, back a bit, ok good, now look down, back at the camera, ok, again but a little happier... no, not that happy, ok... got it!" Once again, thank you for your patience Jodie!

 

 

 

I don't think I was ready for her to take my picture here, I was smiling about something we had been talking about and she caught me! Hence, the funny expression.

 

 

I think I was channelling my inner-paranormal-romance-author here.

 

 

 

My favorite shot of the day. Love the lighting.

 

Thanks again Jodie! Go check out Jodie's website and Facebook page. You will LOVE her photos just as much as I do.

 

Suzi.

 



Sapphire Sun (The Lost Magic, Book Three)

I am SO excited about my new book, Sapphire Sun, coming out this Winter 2012/2013 through Central Avenue Publishing! In case you missed it, here is a sneak peak of the cover:

I will share the exact release date as soon as it has been finalized but until then, here's another little teaser from Sapphire Sun, the sequel to Silver Dew and the third book in The Lost Magic series:

You can't escape the past. You can try to forget but it never truly leaves you. It is a part of

who are you are; it has shaped you, it will shape your future. It is the shadow behind you.

You can't outrun it, you can't hide from it or deny it - the past will always exist. Who you

once were is still a part of who you are today. This, I now understand.

My name is Gracelynn Stevenson. I tried to destroy The Lost Magic. I tried to erase the

past. I tried to make things go back to the way that they once were. I failed. And now all

the happiness I thought I had found, has been lost to the shadows...

Suzi

Adventures in Kindergarten: Rubber Boots & Elf Shoes

This week I thought I would feature a fun and unique blog by a colleague (and friend!) of mine that shares the adventures, learning, creativity and fun from her Kindergarten classroom. Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes is a fantastic blog by Sandi (or Mrs. Sandi), friend and teacher to many a charming munchkin, brilliant educator and Masters degree holder, and wearer of both rubber boots and elf shoes (I have also seen her in the classroom dressed as a pirate, an 1880's school ma'am and a "west-coast" Cinderella, to name a few!).

Sandi describes her blog as...
"Kindergarten adventures: inside, outside, creating, exploring, building, imagining, growing, usually messy, rarely quiet, always fun."

Sandi's classroom is a fun and welcoming place full of learning and exploration. What I love about her blog is the huge variety of posts in such a friendly, fun and accessible format. Not only does Sandi share her classroom's adventures, activities and creations through photos and short, entertaining posts but she also offers free printables, shares videos, introduces us to new books to find and new blogs to follow, and a ton of great craft and activity ideas (that fellow educators and parents will both love). Not to mention the occasional giveaway and guest blog posts! At Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes you will not only share in the joy, spontaneity and creativity of a Kindergarten classroom, you will also learn new things and might even make some new friends - and isn't that what Kindergarten is all about?

Go check out Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes HERE and please "like" this fantastic blog on Facebook HERE.

Thanks!
More fun features yet to come.

Suzi

Family, Photography, Music and Mommyhood: Jodie Gallant Photography

The next blog I've chosen to feature is from Jodie Gallant Photography.

Jodie is a friend of mine who has two young sons, is a very talented artist and musician, teaches music, and is also a professional (and successful!) photographer. Jodie's blog documents her photo sessions (both formal sessions with clients and her informal adventures in photography), keeps people informed about her recent artshowings and publications, and showcases her current works.

You can see from Jodie's blog the amazing and fun balance she has found between raising two little boys, being a mother and wife, working hard, expressing herself artistically and living a music-filled and inspired life. She goes to awesome outdoor locations all over Vancouver Island, photographs kick-ass bands and musicians, captures breath-taking nature stills and stunning candid shots, not to mention the high-quality and professionalism of her more formal studio sessions. There is a fresh and expressive edginess to her artistic style that is reflective of the music, art and joy in her life. I find all of Jodie's photos to be bright and beautiful - there is just a really good energy to all of her shots that isn't filtered out by the lens. Some people take photographs, Jodie captures moments (wow, that sounded cheesy - but I stand behind it!).

As soon as Jodie picked up her first DSLR camera (in just 2008!) and started learning more about photography, she knew this was something she wanted to pursue as a career. And it's a good thing she listened to her heart as she is pretty darn talented and has already found success and recognition for her skills. Her photos have been recently published in magazines such as The Fernie Fix and showcased at events such as The 2012 Coconut Bangers Ball. Jodie has expanded her business to offer a huge range of sessions to her clients, from weddings, to business/corporate shoots, to pets and family photos, to bands and musicians (see the full list here)!

Go check out Jodie's website and blog. And "like" Jodie Gallant Photography on Facebook to stay up-to-date with her recent events, specials and the occasional giveaway!

I'll end this featurette with a quote of a quote from Jodie's website that is definitely well-said:

"Like a kick in the butt, the force of events wakes slumberous talents..." 
Edward Hoagland


Still more features to come! Thanks for reading.


Suzi

Book Three of The Lost Magic

do-do-do-doooo! (Imagine trumpets sounding! Ok, maybe that's too dramatic.)

So anyway, here's my announcement:
Book Three of The Lost Magic will be published by Central Avenue Publishing, Winter 2012/13 (the exact date hasn't been set as of yet but I'll let you know as soon as I can).

Want to know what Book Three is about? View the Central Avenue Publishing Summer Catalogue for a synopsis, available July 1st, 2012 from their website. Don't worry, I'll remind you.

And what is the third book in the series going to be called? (I am SO happy to have chosen a title - it is such a grueling process for me! So here it is...)

SAPPHIRE SUN

Choosing a title is always a tricky process for me (I find it easier to write the whole book than to actually title it!) and involves a lot of thought, consideration, and emails and text messages with my close family, friends and my publisher. I am very happy with the final result! In case you're interested, this is how I got there...

I was drawn to the word "sapphire" right from the start. I have described Grace's eyes as "sapphire blue" several times in my books and I also love the sound of "fire" in "sapphire". There is a new ferocity and strength to Grace that I wanted to be reflected in the title (this is also one of the reasons I wanted to use the word "sun") and I feel that "sapphire" conveys both beauty and strength. I did some research on sapphires and what sold me was an article I found on the International Coloured Gemstone Association site (article HERE). Basically, it says that sapphires come in many different colours including blue, yellow, pink, orange, green and even red (rubies are actually red sapphires). This article also describes sapphires as "gems of the sky" and states how for hundreds of years, all over the world they have been considered symbols of love, loyalty, longing and "indestructible trust". "Sapphire" was the perfect choice.

And as for the "Sun" part? I actually began the title-brainstorming proces by writing a descriptive paragraph about the transition of frost at dawn (Amber Frost) warming and transforming into dew (Silver Dew) as the sun rises higher in the sky (and that's also how I got to Sapphire Sun). This progression makes sense to me anyway and it is symbolic of the journey that Grace's character has undergone through out the series.

So this winter, look out for SAPPHIRE SUN: Book Three in The Lost Magic series.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you love the title as much as I do! And, by the way, I have really enjoyed reading your guesses up until this point.

Suzi

Baby Bloggin' with Cara and Thorin

I just love things that rhyme.

So my second featured blog is Thorin's First Year ! This is an adorable blog written by Thorin's mommy, Cara. When I asked Cara to describe what her blog is all about, she said...

"My blog is basically my journal - a way to document all Thorin's milestones and achievements over his first year, I don't want to forget anything!"

I look forward to reading Cara's posts each month for several reasons. The most obvious reason is because Thorin was born just days after my second son. It's fun to read about what Thorin's up to as I can DEFINITELY relate and I'm sure other moms can too. And I love personal blogs that give their readers a glimpse into the writer's life - I find it fascinating (I'm a reality-TV fan, can you tell?). Thorin is Cara's first child and her obvious enthusiasm and pride in all that he does is both heartwarming and inspiring. Cara's posts remind me to appreciate and acknowledge how much our little ones change and grow each day. And, of course, to cherish every minute.

Cara is also a talented amateur photographer and her beautiful photos document Thorin's adventures and compliment her posts perfectly. He is such an adorable little guy; it's pretty hard not to smile back at the screen! Here are just a few of Cara's photos - you'll find lots more on her blog.



I think all parents can enjoy and appreciate this blog, along with Cara's family and friends. I hope you'll check it out! And just in case you missed the link - go HERE.

Stay tuned for the next feature and a new blog post with an exciting announcement, coming soon! :)

Suzi

Sewing, Cooking, Crafting and Being Awesome: Lil Duckie Arts

Woo-hoo! Welcome to the first feature on my blog! I thought I'd start off this "feature series" with Lil Duckie Arts, a fun blog by my friend Shauna, that has a lil' something for everyone (haha, see what I did there? Sorry, I'll stop.).

Shauna describes Lil Duckie Arts as:
"...where I share my adventures and ideas in paper crafting, sewing, and cooking, with a dash of life sprinkled on top."

I love reading Shauna's blog. I am jealous of her mad sewing skills (because I have none!) and inspired by her delicious recipes and creative projects. Shauna is also a new mom and you'll notice there's a bit of a baby theme to her projects lately - from sewing your own sling, creating beautiful cards and gift boxes, a fabulous nursing wrap design (aka. a "hooter-hider"), to recipes for yummy treats and desserts, these are just a few of her recent posts. You'll see why I love Lil Duckie Arts - be prepared to be impressed (and maybe a tad envious).

Shauna also has a store on Etsy and runs classes out of her home - check her site for a schedule. And if you like Twitter and Facebook (like I do!) you can follow Lil Duckie Arts on Twitter here. Let's all harass Shauna about creating a Facebook page because obviously she is just sitting at home doing nothing. Come on lady! Time to get on that. (I really hope you know I'm joking! I'm in awe of how much you're able to accomplish.).

So go check out Lil Duckie Arts and stayed tuned for more featured blogs (coming soon: sharks, crafts, photography, music, and life experiences!).

Suzi

What's New

Oh, my badly-neglected blog. I'm so sorry I've been ignoring you! This blog is where I first started "sharing" my writing. It began as a way to get my writing out into the world and to search for an audience - and to get feedback. I love blogging. I haven't had much time for it lately though. In the past three years I've had two children, two books published, we sold our home and moved into a new one, and then there's also my "day-job" with the school district that I've worked in between babies! Life has been busy. I'm not complaining - I've been loving every minute of it, but I have been struggling to find time to write. Which leads me to my first announcement...

BOOK THREE in THE LOST MAGIC SERIES will be released by Central Avenue Publishing sometime in late 2012/early 2013!! It depends on a few variables and I will share the exact release date with you as soon as it's decided upon. But the third book is in the works! Title and synopsis will be announced soon - look for it in the Central Avenue summer catalogue (available July 1, 2012).

And my second announcement, that I'm quite excited about :) I've decided to restart my blog and to run a short series of "features" to connect with and support other artists, writers, musicians, etc. in my community. I'm lucky enough to know quite a few talented individuals and to live in a supportive and close-knit community. I thought running these features would be a neat way to show people what I'm into, the unique businesses in my community and the creative and talented people I know. So stay tuned...

Suzi

SILVER DEW is Coming Soon...

SILVER DEW, my second novel and the second book in my YA, paranormal romance series The Lost Magic, now has a release date - December 1st! I'm very excited for the launch of both the ebook and paperback, and hopefully if you're reading this you are too. If you review Young Adult books and are interested in reviewing an advanced readers copy of the ebook (eARC), please contact ireadiwrite Publishing (eARCs available November 7th).

To celebrate the upcoming release of SILVER DEW, my publisher is offering AMBER FROST (the first book in the series) on sale for just 99 cents for the month of November only! Now is the perfect time to re-read the first book or to get a friend hooked on The Lost Magic books :)

My publisher is also offering a giveaway of SILVER DEW on Goodreads! There's a link below to check out the details and enter to win. There are 2 copies available I believe - good luck!

Thanks for all your support. Can't wait for December 1st!

Suzi

Purchase AMBER FROST on Amazon for 99 cents HERE

Purchase AMBER FROST on Smashwords for 99 cents HERE

Learn more about SILVER DEW and enter to win a copy on Goodreads HERE

Watch the AMBER FROST video trailer HERE

AMBER FROST in PRINT!

GIVEAWAY



AMBER FROST, Book One of The Lost Magic series is now available in paperback! To celebrate its release and to thank all of my wonderful supporters, I've decided to offer a free, signed paperback copy of AMBER FROST to one of my fans. All you need to do to enter this contest is to COMMENT on this post. I will draw the winner on Friday, October 28th and announce the winner Saturday, October 29th here and on my Facebook page. Make sure you "like" my Facebook page too - there are lots of exciting events and giveaways coming up as we prepare for the release of SILVER DEW, Book Two in the Lost Magic series and my Facebook page is generally more up-to-date than my website.

Thank you all so much for your support!

Suzi

I'm Back - I Think

It’s been a long time, I know and I apologize. As I’m typing right now, I have my almost-three week old baby asleep on me and my two year old napping in the next room. Yes, life has been busy (insanely so!) but in the best possible way. Things are finally starting to settle down. I’m getting myself into a new routine and part of that includes making time for my writing, again.

Lots of exciting things are happening in my life right now – my first book, Amber Frost, is being released in PRINT (a “real” book as my Gran would say, but that’s a whole ‘nother discussion). I’ve finished writing my second book, Silver Dew, (the sequel to Amber Frost) and it is currently going through the editing process in preparation for its release this December (in both print and e-formats!). And we have recently welcomed a new member to our family! Our beautiful little boy was born at the beginning of September. He’s my second child and thankfully, he sleeps more than his older brother ever did!

Having a newborn in the house again has brought a lot of changes and differences from the first time around. I laugh as I remember how much time we spent quietly gazing at our first child and murmuring in soft voices over how beautiful he was. Our second child is a little angel too (don’t get me wrong) but there’s little time for sitting and gazing in awe these days. We have our occasional quiet moments but most of our day is “go-go-go”. My two year old operates at one speed – turbo! And we all have to try to keep up. I’ve also realized since my second child was born just how LOUD my toddler is. His favorite game seems to be “wake-up baby” right now. My step-Dad laughed when I commented that I just realized how loud my older child is the other night and he informed me “we could have told you that a long time ago”.

I’m dealing with the inevitable Mummy-guilt too. No matter how hard I try, I feel like someone or something is getting neglected whether it’s my toddler, my new baby, my husband, my writing, my friends and even myself (mostly myself!). As a wise friend pointed out, we (as mothers) always seem to focus on what we aren’t doing “right” and we tend to overlook all of the things that we are. My main accomplishments these days are showering, getting laundry done (how does one tiny baby create three times as much laundry as a grown man?) and remembering to feed myself. But I’m also getting out of the house more each day, cooking, cleaning, playing and cuddling with my boys, writing, visiting with family and friends and also trying to find time for myself and my husband (who’s about to turn 30!!). I’m trying to celebrate the small victories, like finally updating my blog and going to the grocery store, alone, with my two boys – and surviving! It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, being a Mom is the greatest and hardest job on Earth.

I will try and post again soon; it’s on my never-ending “To-Do” list. In the meantime, check my website, Twitter and Facebook pages for news on upcoming events. I’ll be doing a live chat with The Long and Short of It, Yahoo chat group tomorrow (read my recent interview with The Long and Short of It HERE). Keep your eyes on the Amaterasu Reads site for an upcoming review and giveaway of Amber Frost too. Books in the Spotlight will also be featuring a review of Amber Frost this Fall.

Thanks again for reading what I write.

Suzi

Let's Get Personal... Or Not.

I haven’t blogged in a while. There has been a lot going on in my life - which is really no excuse at all. You would think that all the drama would have made for some great blog posts… or does it?

December 25th I found out I was pregnant. Early February, before I’d reached the security of the twelve week mark, I started having some indications of a miscarriage. Tests were run, ultrasounds took place, results came back (not all good). I was eventually told everything appeared to be ok and that my symptoms may have been from losing a twin early on but there was still one healthy baby.

In the midst of all this, I wrote a three-part blog series about my experience facing the possibility of another pregnancy loss. It was extremely personal. I cried while I wrote and poured my heart out on each page. But then once I had finished my work, I found myself strangely reluctant to post it on my blog. I usually enjoy sharing personal stories and experiences – it’s therapeutic to write them, it’s a liberating rush to share them, and I think it can also be quite fascinating for others to read these type of stories; we all sometimes enjoy a glimpse into other peoples’ personal-lives, minds and hearts – a walk in someone else’s shoes. But for me, this experience was unexpectedly too personal to share.

Perhaps my emotions were and are too fresh still. Or perhaps it’s because the details of this story are not just mine to share, but they also belong to my husband, my family, my unborn child. Maybe it seems wrong to entertain others with such a near-tragedy. Or perhaps, I am not as strong and honest a person as I attempt to project myself to be. Is it possible that a small part of me is ashamed to discuss the challenges I have faced with conception and carrying pregnancies to term? I don't think so but I’m not entirely sure. Haven’t I taken some pride in my willingness to share these personal stories? Isn’t that what my blog has been about? Sharing what goes on in my mind with the world?

I think my blog is about to embark in a new direction. I still want to tell fun stories, I still want to write entertaining posts that will sometimes make my readers laugh and at other times make them think, question or reexamine their beliefs, and I still want to share as much of myself and my life with my readers as possible. But I have become increasingly aware of my audience and a sense of responsibility towards them. I want to write more about my writing, about my projects, about my experiences as an author. As much fun as it is to write just for myself, I am not the only one reading my blog and I need to write for my readers too (even though I hope a lot of you have enjoyed what I've written/posted so far). Lately I’ve found myself thinking about how a blog should be different than a journal or a diary – or at least I would like this one to be. And I’ve reached the decision that some things may just be too personal to share. My posts will still be coming "From the Mind of Suzi" but... they may be filtered a bit more during the process of transforming my thoughts and opinions to words on a page.

This feels a little “heavy” so let’s end on a positive note. After all the ups and downs I’ve faced since finding out I’m pregnant again, I’m finally ready to announce it - I’m pregnant! I’m due September 5th, 2011 and am about… 15/16 weeks? I’ve seen my baby wiggling away on an ultrasound screen and I’ve heard his/her heartbeat, the most beautiful and precious sound in the world.

Life is good.


Suzi

Getting my Christmas Cheer On

I have really enjoyed my time off work over Christmas. I’ve been busy promoting my new ebook, AMBER FROST, writing the sequel to it, and even finding some time to blog, read and take a few photo’s. We’ve visited friends, visited Santa, taken a family trip on the local “Christmas Train”, and even been to Church (for the first time in… umm… 7 years?).

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend lots of time with you families and friends. That is exactly what I did this year and I couldn’t have imagined a more special time – or more hilarious. Because that’s what happens when the crazy-people-who-I-call-family all gather together.

Oh, where to start?

This was my son’s second Christmas but it will probably be the first that he’ll really remember (we think but who really knows!). It was amazing how quickly he grasped the concept of opening presents – this is the same child who frequently walks around with a bucket on his head and eats sand while saying “yum-yum” - my special Little Man. He caught on to the idea of opening presents very fast, but he definitely did not “get” the idea of giving presents. When we tried to encourage him to hand out the presents that were from him (he loves to hand out pictures of himself, modest little man) he freaked. There was a lot of “noooooo!” and “miiiiiiine!” and trying to open other peoples’ presents and run away with them. He’s not even 2 yet so he deserves a little bit of a break. But still – it was a little embarrassing. He did remember to use his “peas” and “dank-doos” appropriately though, so there was that at least!

My son’s Grandparents all went a little overboard this year in the "giving" department. The Little Man is the only grandchild on the hubbie’s side of the family and the only one in the country on my side. Our little monster actually got so tired of opening gifts at my in-laws that he started to say “no-no” when offered a present and would run and hide. He just wanted to play with his new, toy car on the kitchen floor and chase the in-laws’ dog. At my folks’ place his favorite toys were a fly swatter he found out on the deck and a penguin magnet he stole off their fridge. Isn’t that always the way?

As for myself, I was quite spoiled too. I especially enjoyed the Amazon gift card from my folks so I could load-up my Kindle (check Goodreads to see what I’m reading now) and also the Paderno cookware set from my in-laws. I never thought I would hear myself squeal in delight over a set of shiny, new pots and pans. My eighteen year-old self was definitely rolling her eyes.

The best gift this Christmas though was the arrangement made between the hubbie and I, and his sister and brother (and their respective partners). Instead of each couple buying gifts for the others, we each took the money we would have spent and donated it to our local food banks. It was a great idea; kudos to my sister-in-law and her fiancé (still haven’t forgotten about the Giant Evil Bunny incident) for coming up with it. To be perfectly honest – it was fast, convenient, there was no wasteful spending and it felt SO good! The lady at the food bank was almost in tears when we dropped off our cheque. She thanked us profusely when really, all we were doing was dropping off a cheque – she was the one who was volunteering her time and effort! It still felt good.

The absolute best part of Christmas though was all the time spent with my loved ones; waking up Christmas morning, warm and happy in my husband’s arms, watching the joy on the Little Man’s face as he pulled a little train out of his stocking and starting yelling “CHOO-CHOO! Mumma! Dadda! CHOO-CHOO!” And all the good food and hugs and laughter – oh, it’s so corny but it’s true. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

No matter where you were, what you were doing and how you did (or didn’t) celebrate the Holidays, I hope you had a perfect time.

Suzi

"The Rest is Still Unwritten"

Sound familiar? It’s from a Natasha Bedingfield song, “Unwritten”. I included it in the playlist I created to accompany (or compliment, rather) my recently published book, Amber Frost. Why? Because it’s a great song that will be stuck in your head all day now, and the lyrics are surprisingly insightful and well-suited to the mood of my book.

“Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.”

I haven’t blogged in a while; I could barely find the time to complain about how little time I’ve had recently! In other words, a lot has been left unwritten. Anyway, I’m back, and since my novel was released this week, I thought a fitting topic to blog about would be to discuss how I write and what the process looks like for me. So here we go…

Every story starts with an idea (shocking, I know). For me, the idea can come in many different forms – an image, a sentence, a character, a scene. I think about my “idea” for a long time before I actually begin writing anything down. This may sound like procrastination but the majority of my writing is honestly done in my head. I develop characters, work on story lines and plan out dialogues while I’m out on walks, or trying to fall asleep at night, or even when I’m driving (no worries, I’m a great multi-tasker). It was for this reason that I bought a digital voice recorder – because I often have these great ideas but I’m not able to write them down when they occur (not because I love the sound of my own voice as my husband may try to tell you).

Once I’ve developed enough of an outline, I begin writing. I write straight through from Chapter One until “The End”. I don’t go back and re-read or edit until I’ve finished, for fear of becoming too caught up in making changes (I’ll admit, I can be a bit of an anal perfectionist). Typically, I’ll spend anywhere from 1-6 hrs a day writing. Some days, I’ll write as much as 50 pages, others I’ll write only a paragraph or two. If I sit down to write and nothing comes to me, I’ll put my work away until the next day, and do a lot of “writing in my head” in the meantime. I find if I force myself to write, the writing comes out forced (I know, another brilliant insight).

Moving on, once I’ve completed the story, I go back through and do an edit based solely on grammar and punctuation. While I work, I make a list of “problems” – inconsistencies in the story line, areas I’m not completely satisfied with, details that I feel need to be added in or taken out or clarified – and I go back and rework these areas on my second read through. When I was working on Amber Frost, I actually had the manuscript printed and spiral-bound after the second read-through and re-read the physical copy with a pencil in hand for the third edit. I wrote all over my manuscript – it looked like I had practically rewritten my novel. It was just what I needed.

The fourth edit was all about removing extraneous material and getting my word count and chapter lengths to a workable level. For Amber Frost, I think I dropped about 100 pages. The fifth and final read-through was my last chance to make any more changes before submitting my manuscript to publishers.

Submissions are a process in and of themselves. You must first spend HOURS researching potential publishers, deciding which might be appropriate to query, and then preparing a submission package based upon each publishers’ individual requirements (sample chapters, outlines, synopsis’s of varying lengths, cover letters, queries, etc.). Not to mention all the emails, stamps and envelopes to send out. It’s a nightmare but well worth the effort… if it pays off which most likely, it will not. Great motivation, right? But when you’ve already put this much work into something and when you’re passionate about the work you have done, it’s all just part of the fun.

Once I finally found a home for Amber Frost (at ireadiwrite Publishing), the process was far from over. I was to read-through my manuscript again, make more changes, have my manuscript professionally edited, make more changes, and then do two more read-through’s and make the final changes before its release date.

It has been a journey and a half. Two years ago was when my book began. Three days ago was when my book was published. The rest is still unwritten.


Suzi

*Amber Frost is available now, anywhere that ebooks are sold. Purchase half-price ($2.50) from ireadiwrite Publishing's website until Christmas.
Click HERE to purchase now.

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My Darkness

As my YA novel, AMBER FROST 's release date is approaching (Dec.7), my days are getting busier and busier.  Lately it feels like each day is becoming a little more stressful. The pressure on my shoulders weighs me down a fraction more. It’s nothing I can’t handle; pressure has always brought out the best in me but it is causing the shadows in my past to stir…

This week I’ve decided to write something a little different than what you may have come to expect from me. I think some of my best writing comes out through the more honest, expressive and ultimately, more frightening pieces to write and to share.

And so I begin.

I’ve suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for most of my life. The first time I can clearly remember dealing with anxiety was when I was about six. I was terrified to be left alone at night time. I would become overwhelmed by anxiety and fear when I was trying to fall asleep. This manifested in several ways; a fear of the dark, night terrors, to some extent insomnia. At the age of six, my anxiety was lessened by a very special teddy bear that my Mummy gave me to sleep with – I still believed in the power of my Mummy’s magic and took comfort from the companionship of a cuddly, stuffed friend. This reprise wouldn’t last forever though.

For the first eighteen years of my life, I also suffered from social anxiety disorder; in other words, I was excessively, almost debilitatingly, shy. I was terrified of looking stupid in front of other people. I imagined that no one liked me, and the idea of having to speak up in front of a group of my peers was a real, living nightmare to me. In my teenaged years, my social-anxiety slowly lessened. I never got completely past it until I was about 21 though, and that was because I finally started taking medication for my disorder.

And then there were my panic attacks too. I started having panic attacks when I was thirteen years old. There was no definable trigger for me. I would suddenly start to feel dizzy or “strange”. My pulse would start rapidly increasing and I’d find it hard to catch my breath. A wave of terrifying fear and the certainty that I was about to die would hit me. I would struggle to breathe. My hands would start to tingle, then fill with painful pins-and-needles pricks and finally would curl into rigid claws as I hyperventilated. I would feel like I was about to pass out and would sometimes become so dizzy that black spots would appear in front of my eyes and the world would suddenly feel distant and far away, fuzzy even. It could happen anywhere at anytime; the fear of it alone was enough to cause a panic attack if I thought on it too long. My panic attacks lasted anywhere from less than a minute to half an hour and at the worst point, they occurred several times a day.

Eventually (when I was about 21) I began taking medication for my anxiety disorder. I was amazed with the results. I hadn’t even realized how bad I’d become; I had forgotten what it was like to live “normally”. Having said that, after taking medication for about 4 years, it was very difficult to come off it and I suffered through some pretty strenuous withdrawals when I did eventually wean myself off.

I made the decision to stop taking medication when the Hubbie and I wanted to start trying for a family. Amazingly, I never once suffered a panic attack while pregnant. I was very concerned about the possibility of post-partum anxiety but that wasn’t an issue for me either. In fact, I haven’t taken any medication in over three years now and this is the least amount of anxiety I’ve ever had to deal with in my life.

It doesn’t mean I’m completely better. Likely, this is something I will always deal with to some extent but right now it is more than manageable and I’m feeling pretty good about how things are going.

So that’s my experience with anxiety and panic attacks, and medication too for that matter. This disorder is a lot more common than you think (I’ve met dozens of people in the past few years who at some point have suffered from similar conditions) and it’s also often misunderstood. Anxiety can manifest in many different ways. It is often (as it was for me) a quiet and private struggle that many people dismiss though at times, my disorder was quite serious and without a doubt, affected every part of my life.

The Hubbie likes to joke that I’m “crazy” and I’m ok with that. We both know I have issues – who doesn’t? In all seriousness though, I’d love to take away just a little of the stigma associated with mental health conditions, medication and therapy. So here I am, throwing my own experience out there, as frightening as it might be. I just hope that you might gain something from hearing a little about it and will maybe understand who I am, just a little bit more.


Suzi

The Scariest Halloween Ever

It was Halloween morning and I was in my son’s room, changing his diaper. The Little Man was in a pleasant mood having had a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast. He was smiling, babbling, and being all kinds of cute, distracting me completely from everything else that was going on.

If I’d just been paying a little more attention, I might have thought longer about the fact that my sister-in-law had just pulled up outside our house and she had come from the wrong direction. When she came inside, I overheard Hubbie mention that he’d thought she’d said her fiancé (hahaha, I know how much she’ll hate me using that word) was coming too – but strangely, she had arrived alone.

I didn’t think about it though, I didn’t question what was going on. I was just happily doing my own thing, tickling my Little Man and making him laugh as I finished cleaning him up and redressing him. Sometimes I am so naïve and much too trusting.

My head was down as I walked out of his bedroom, dirty diaper in hand. My Hubbie (yes, he was involved by now in the conspiracy too) casually asked if I’d seen what was outside? He sounded so excited, I thought for sure I was about to see something pretty or funny or cool. I was sooooo wrong.

Peering through my living room window, its giant, distorted head just above the level of my couch, was an evil bunny. Have you seen the movie, Donnie Darko? Remember Frank the Bunny? Well, he was standing right outside my house, staring straight at me. You might be starting to make some connections here between this incident and the Evil Bunny statue (click here for a refresher) that my sister-in-law likes to move around the outside of my house and position so that he’s peering in my windows (yes, same sister-in-law). That Evil Bunny figurine is only about 9 inches tall though. What I was now looking at was a full-size, 7 foot, psychotic-looking bunny who had definitely caught me by surprise.

None of us were prepared for my reaction.

I screamed bloody-murder; the sound even scared me a little. I don’t remember doing this, but my traitor-of-a-husband and sadistic-sister-in-law assure me that I launched the dirty diaper in my hand into the air (narrowly missing my poor Little Man) and dove back into his bedroom like I was being shot at. I curled up into a ball on the ground beside the change-table and my whole body instantly started shaking. Even though I already realized that Frank the Bunny must really be my sister-in-law’s FIANCE in his Halloween costume and that this was all some kind of prank, I was still scared $hitless. I tried really hard to laugh but I was so scared I could hardly move or talk and tears were already uncontrollably sliding down my face.

My sister-in-law was horrified, I think they all were. It obviously wasn’t very funny. I have to admit though, it became funnier later once I saw the Frank the Bunny costume from a distance and was prepared for it. Watching my Hubbie organize a little photo shoot with Frank the Bunny peering through our windows and posing in our front yard even made me crack a smile too. I even laughed a bit when Hubbie described how he’d looked out the window when his sister first arrived and had seen Frank the Bunny walking slowly down the street towards our house along the neat sidewalk in a fairly quiet neighborhood at ten in the morning. I wonder what our neighbors think of us now?

Anyway, today was a Halloween I will NEVER forget. I guess the prank ended up working out because we’re all laughing about it now and not only did they manage to scare me but I got to scare all of them too!

Hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween!

Suzi

10 Things I Wouldn't do Again

I’ve been incredibly busy lately with work and getting ready for the launch of my Young Adult/Teen paranormal-romance novel, Amber Frost (available Dec. 7, 2010 through all major ebook sellers!). I apologize for the lack of recent posts. I’ve been thinking about writing a lot lately – it’s just finding the time that is the challenge. Anyway, at some point over the past week or so I realized I started creating a list in my head of Things I Wouldn’t do Again and I had to write it down. I decided to cut it off at 10 because… well, why not?

1. Setting-up Friends
Who doesn’t love the idea of taking credit for someone else’s successful relationship? On some small level, don’t we all want to be pimps? Or at least just wear a pimp hat? No? Just me? Anyway, setting-up your friends is a horrible idea because ultimately, most couples break up. And when they do you’ll have to take a side – it’s unavoidable. I thought I was a genius for setting up two of my friends in University. They were so obviously perfect for one another and dated quite happily for several months; I couldn’t have been more smug. Then the messy breakup happened and things got awkward fast. I lost my bragging rights and ended up losing one of my friends. I will never set-up friends again.

2. Work at a Fast-Food Chain
I got paid minimum wage to work the most stressful, unpleasant and demanding job I’ve ever had which (as a bonus) also happened to be accompanied with the least amount of respect. I had to deal with rude and obnoxious customers on a daily basis, an unintelligent manager on a power trip, and for the ultimate humiliation, I had to wear tapered pants made out of fire-resistant material. Never again.
By the way, I admire the people who can work in these stressful and fast-paced restaurants because I certainly wasn’t cut out for it! It really was the hardest job I’ve ever had and we should all respect the people who do it. I definitely do.

3. Go to Art School
Why not? Because I only met three cool people who I still talk to (in 4 yrs), I use my degree in Visual Arts for… well, just about nothing, I racked up a student loan in excess of $30,000 and I really didn’t become that much of a better artist – just more cynical. I wouldn’t go back and change it if I could though, I’m glad with how my life’s worked out. I just wouldn’t do it again!

4. Party too Hard
We all say “never again” the next morning but I’m hoping the last time I said that really was the truth. After completely avoiding alcohol while trying to conceive for a year, then being pregnant for nine months, then nursing my child for 14 months after that – I haven’t uttered this phrase in well over 3 years. To some the extent of your hangover the next day may be the main defining quality of how much fun you had the night before but Momma’s don’t have the option of staying in bed all day to nurse a hangover. My Little Alarm clock goes off somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30 am every morning – “mommmmmmm-mmmmaaaaa!” and I’d rather wake up ready to play than to puke.

5. Smoke
I just wanted to point out I quit about… 4 yrs ago now! Woo hoo!

6. Bake a Double Batch of Double-Chocolate Chip Cookies (when I know the only one who is going to eat them is me!)

7. Buy Halloween Candy Long Before Halloween (same reason as the cookies)

8. Give Birth
Just one of the many stupid things I have done and will do for my child. Ok, it wasn’t stupid and it really wasn’t that bad but I would LOVE not to have to do this again. And even as I say it, I know eventually, I probably will. I really am stupid.

9. Shop with the Hubbie
Sometimes I get these images in my mind and I become so obsessed with the perfection of these little imaginary scenes that I convince myself reality will be just as magical. It isn’t. Shopping with the Hubbie is not a fun, relaxed, bonding experience – it is excruciatingly painful for both of us. The main issue is that Hubbie does not (like many other men) understand the concept of “browsing”.
Hubbie – “What are you looking for?”
Me – “I don’t know.”
Hubbie – “Why are we in here then?”
Me – “In case I see something.”
Hubbie – “Like what?”
Me – *irritated* “I don’t know yet.”
Hubbie – *just as irritated* “I’m waiting outside.”
Hubbie approaches shopping like a military operation. There are ETA’s and EDT’s and specific mission objectives. There are meeting points and hydration breaks but no other unscheduled stops and absolutely no “browsing”. There is also no slow-paced strolling or hand-holding though sometimes I can slip my hand into his before he notices. Naturally when this happens, I make fun of how lame he is for walking around a mall on a Sunday afternoon, holding hands with his wife! This is our relationship in a nutshell. (Hubbie is objecting that he is not the shopping-Nazi that I’m making him out to be. In his defense, he tries his best to grin and bear it and still takes me shopping every year for my birthday – I’m really a very lucky gal.)

10. Have my Hair Cut into a Mullet
I was nine, my Mom convinced me it would be a good look for me. A nice short, easy-style for a nine year old to take care of while still long enough in the back that it would look feminine. Momma lied. Until the mullet grew out, my older sister was able to convince people I was her younger brother, Steve. I’m not entirely convinced that Mullets are for anyone, but they are definitely not for girls.

Suzi

A Review of David Nicholls' "One Day"

Let me start off by saying, I want you to read this novel but only so you can tell me what you thought of it because as far as my reaction goes… I’m undecided. I’m not using my usual format for this review because it is quite an unusual book. And (since I’m starting off with all these side notes) I’d also like to apologize for the lateness of this post (it’s been a crazy week) and I also want to take a moment to announce the official launch date of my novel (Amber Frost) which will be made available Dec. 7 through ireadiwrite Publishing!!

Ok, back to business.

So I was pretty excited about reading One Day – I’d heard great things. It’s an International bestseller, the film adaptation has already completed filming, it’s been getting some amazing reviews and I’ve always had a weakness for an interesting love-story (not to mention the author, David Nicholls, just looks like a really cool, interesting guy) but this… was not what I expected.

I think my main issue with this novel is the characters. I didn’t love them, for the most part I didn’t even like them but through it all, I was completely fascinated by them. The protagonist, Emma (Em) Morley, is an idiot – there’s no avoiding that fact. No matter how badly I wanted her to be clever and confident and secure in herself, she was not. Though I enjoyed her sense of humor and inner dialogue, I was so frustrated by the poor choices she made that I frequently found myself wincing and groaning out loud. And then there’s Dexter – the douche bag. He really is a douche bag; he takes his friendship with Em (and just about everything else in his life) for granted, he’s self-possessed, disrespectful, egotistical and arrogant, and despite it all, Em loves him and you will too (and you may even hate yourself a little bit for it). Why? Because for some strange, inexplicable reason, we are often attracted to the people who are the least worthy of our love. That’s just the way it is and this is certainly the case with Dexter Mayhew.

The timeline of One Day, though unique, only added to my frustration with this novel. The plot moves at an unusual pace and leaves many gaps as the story leaps forward a year at a time, revisiting Em and Dexter’s relationship every July 15th, starting in 1988 and ending July 15th, 2007. Many of the events and details that you will crave to read the most are only hinted at because they do not fall on this specific, crucial day. July 15th is the only day that Nicholls provides us access to though he does follow his characters through 20 years of their relationship; it’s contradictory and frustrating and because of this, you may not be able to put it down. The entire novel (characters, plot and all the details in-between) was unsatisfying as a whole but that was ultimately what kept me turning the pages and left me craving more.

On the book’s cover The Guardian proclaims this novel to be “roaringly funny”. Apparently “The Guardian” is easily excited or at least prone to exaggeration. Obviously my sense of humor is on a whole different plane (good or bad who knows!?) or maybe I just didn’t “get it”. Either way, I don’t know how anyone could consider this a “funny” book; it’s actually quite a sad book. I think Tony Parsons’s endorsement was more honest when he described One Day to be “about the heartbreaking gap between the way we were and the way we are”. I wish I said that – let’s pretend I did as it sums up One Day quite well.

So while I can’t really decide how I feel about this book, and I definitely won’t read it again, I will say that it is still, for some indefinable reason, worth reading. One Day is interesting, unique and completely irritating. I hated it, then I loved it, then I hated it some more but I think, just like Dexter and Em’s relationship, that was sort of the point.

Would love to know your thoughts if you’ve read it. If you haven’t, you can borrow my copy because there’s one thing I’m certain of - it was not worth the $17.95 cover price I paid. I think I’ll have to stick with ebooks from now on. Hey… did I mention there’s this really great ebook (Amber Frost) coming out on Dec.7th? Mark your calendars...

Suzi